May 19, 2014 Council Meeting

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Reinhardt called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
ROLL CALL – Sippel, Williamson, Bren, Hughes, Reinhardt.
INTRODUCTIONS - Reinhardt introduced the council and staff to the public. Administrator Tolsma, Clerk Lewin, Engineer Pearson, Attorney Beck.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE -
ADOPT AGENDA – Williamson makes a motion and Hughes seconds to adopt the agenda. All votes ayes, motion carries.
ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA – Hughes was impressed with the PC minutes and the analysis of the park and he thinks this should be moved on. Sippel makes a motion and Bren seconds to adopt the consent agenda. All votes ayes, motion carries.

City Council Regular Meeting Minutes from May 5, 2014
Planning Commission Minutes from May 14, 2014

PUBLIC FORUM – No one.
PRESENTATIONS & GUEST SPEAKERS – None.
PETITIONS, REQUESTS & APPLICATIONS – None.
ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS – None.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS & COMMITTEES

Mayor and Council –

Williamson agrees with Hughes about the Commissioners' comments about evaluating the park and he thinks at a study session he would like to highlight a few of the suggestions and tackle these. Williamson also wondered about the mention in the PC minutes of some sort of sign sticking out perpendicular and Lewin explained the sign applicant is wanting a sign that juts from the building. Williamson also wondered about a potential penalty for a premature sign placement and Tolsma explained this was due to the paddleboard business putting up an unapproved sign.

City Administrator

Sign Retroreflectivity Policy –

Tolsma said this has been in the works for a couple of years. He said it was mandatory that by 2012 cities had to replace their signage. He said it’s been delayed and watered down and now it’s down to requiring cities to have a policy in place. He said the memo gives information on what retroreflectivity is. He said there is a sample policy supplied with fill in blanks. Tolsma said this can be discussed and changes made or it can be adopted this evening with recommended changes. Tolsma said Engineer Pearson has worked on this with a different township and it’s recommended that 100% every five years be the choice. He said it’s a relatively simple procedure and can most likely be done in one evening. Hughes asked about street signs and visibility. He wondered if blue or brown backgrounds will be excluded. Tolsma said this doesn’t apply to street signs. Sippel also questioned that section. He wondered if it should be stated what will be included. He thinks stop signs would be the most important sign of all but it looks to be excluded. Tolsma agrees and thinks it might be an idea to spell it out specifically. He recommends the page two language to be included. Pearson said the MN MTCE manual has identified signs and he anticipated these questions. He said the R8 series gives examples. Williamson said the desire is to upgrade the signs. He said with the aging population, the ability to adjust to night-time driving is difficult for aging baby boomers. He feels budget considerations and sign inventories plus what signs need to have maximum reflectivity are necessary. Hughes wonders about the device that measures reflectivity and it’s suggested the device be borrowed due to its cost. Reinhardt said there is a lot of leeway on establishing an inventory and it’s probably not necessary to get into the details at this time. Tolsma said different methods or combinations can be decided on. Sippel agrees with the entire city once every five years and a sign inventory and then visit the applicable signs. He wants to specifically state what needs to be included in terms of signs. Bren asked about night time visible inspection and she wonders about the trained, visual inspector and wondering if they would have their own equipment. Pearson said he’s previously dealt with this. He said there are some online courses and there are written directions that can be followed. He said there is some subjectivity but best judgment is acceptable. Reinhardt said there are some signs on Sunset Drive that would be good examples of retroreflectivity.

City Engineer –

Pearson said he has an update of lift station five. A set of prints have been submitted for review and he feels they’re about 80% complete. He thinks by the end of the week they should be 100% complete and it can go out for bids. Sippel asked about the results of the soil borings. Pearson said there were no concerns about the stability below. He said there is some fill material in the upper layer and there is a recommendation to use piers on the valve manhole. Williamson wants to know when bid opening would take place and Pearson said a three week period is allowed for bidding so towards the end of June. He said the bid date has not been finalized yet.

City Attorney
Utility Superintendent

UPCOMING MEETINGS & TRAINING

May 27 (Tuesday) – Work Session – 7:00 PM
May 28 – LMCD – 7:00 PM
June 2 – City Council Regular Meeting – 7:30 PM
Doug said there is a full commission meeting for the LMCC on May 20.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None.
NEW BUSINESS & COMMUNICATION

Bills & Payroll – Hughes makes a motion and Sippel seconds to pay the bills. All votes ayes, motion carries.

MISCELLANEOUS (Information Only)

Met Council Population & Household Estimate – Reinhardt said they’re about a year behind. Williamson said households have a more limited definition. Housing units can be Pres Homes.
Fire Department Press Release
Fire Department April Report

ADJOURNMENT – Sippel made a motion and Bren seconds to adjourn at 8:05 pm. All votes ayes, motion carries. _______________________________

Wendy Lewin, City Clerk

___________________________________

Dan Tolsma, Administrator